Add-On Decorative Pocket Flaps for Jeans and Other Pants

ABSTRACT

An add-on pocket flap assembly is described that can be selectively and removably placed in the rear pocket of a pair of jeans (or other pants) to give the pants a designer look without the expense associated with purchasing designer jeans. As can be appreciated, the illustrated product is typically sold and used in pairs. The flaps are typically embroidered and/or adorned in a manner that is typical on the permanent flaps of designer jeans.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to and incorporates fully by referenceU.S. provisional patent application 61/987,076 filed on May 1, 2014entitled “Add-On Faux Pocket Flaps for Jeans and Other Pants” and havingat least one common inventor.

BACKGROUND

Many designer jeans and other pants typically for women includeembroidered and/or adorned rear pocket flaps that give the pants a morestylish and fashionable look. However, designer jeans can very costlycompared to more traditional jeans and, as such, many women can affordvery few pairs, if any, despite the desire to own more.

Adorning plain pocket flaps of jeans with rhinestones and other fauxjewels is also known, but each particular pair can only be adorned withone particular design on each pocket. If the wearer desires to havedifferently adorned flaps for different occasions for instance, she musthave a different pair of jeans for each. Having as many pairs of jeanshaving differing deigns may be more costly than a particular person canafford.

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective front view of a faux pocket flap according toone embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective rear view of a faux pocket flap according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective rear view of a faux pocket flap with the flapportion raised to reveal and show the insertion portion according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective side view of a faux pocket flap with the flapportion raised to reveal and show the insertion portion according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective end view of a faux pocket flap illustrating theconvex/concave shape of the insertion portion according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is perspective view of a person from behind wearing jeans havingan embodiment of faux pocket flaps inserted in the rear pockets of thejeans.

FIG. 7 is perspective rear view of the fabric flap portion prior tojoining to the insertion portion according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a foam sheet insertion portion prior toforming and prior to joining to the flap portion according to oneembodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present invention comprise an add-on pocket flapassembly that can be selectively and removably placed in the rear pocketof a pair of jeans (or other pants) to give the pants a designer lookwithout the expense associated with purchasing designer jeans. As can beappreciated, the illustrated product is typically sold and used inpairs. The flaps are typically embroidered and/or adorned in a mannerthat is typical on the permanent flaps of designer jeans.

Terminology

The terms and phrases as indicated in quotes (“ ”) in this section areintended to have the meaning ascribed to them in this Terminologysection applied to them throughout this document including the claimsunless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further, as applicable,the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of the word or phrase'scase, to the singular and plural variations of the defined word orphrase.

The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims isnot meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning “eitheror both”.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “apreferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment” and similar phrasesmean that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic describedin connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodimentof the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” invarious places in the specification are not necessarily all meant torefer to the same embodiment.

The term “couple” or “coupled” as used in this specification and theappended claims refers to either an indirect or direct connectionbetween the identified elements, components or objects. Often the mannerof the coupling will be related specifically to the manner in which thetwo coupled elements interact.

Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left,right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, horizontal,back, front and lateral are relative to each other and are dependent onthe specific orientation of an applicable element or article, and areused accordingly to aid in the description of the various embodimentsand are not necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.

An Embodiment of an Add-On Decorative Pocket Flap for Pants

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an embodiment of an add-on decorative pocket flapassemblies 10 for use with the back pockets of jeans and other types ofpants. The pocket flap assemblies include: (i) a flap portion 12, whichcovers the top edge and portion of an associated pocket when in use; andan insertion portion 14, which is received into the interior of thepocket to hold the assembly in place.

The flap portion 12 as best shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 7 is typicallycomprised of a similar if not identical material to that of the type ofpants in which the assembly is to be inserted. Typically, the flap ismade of a denim fabric for use with jeans. The general construction ofthe flap is similar to permanent flaps found on designer jeans and otherpants. A typical flap portion comprises two plies of fabric that havebeen hemmed around the joining edges to give the flap a finishedappearance. A flap portion includes a front surface 16 that is exposedwhen the assembly is used in an intended manner, a back surface 18 thatrests against the outside surface of a pocket when in use, a top edge 20and a tab portion 22 that extends from the top edge and attaches to theflap portion 12.

The front surface 16 of the flap portion can be adorned with rhinestones23 or other attachments, which are adhesively or otherwise permanentlyaffixed to the exterior of the flap portion. In some variations, theflap may include embroidery in place of or in addition to the rhinestoneadornment. Simply, the adornment can be similar to adornment found onpermanent flaps of designer jeans and pants. Further variations arecontemplated wherein the adornment may include logos of sports teams oreven a band or musical group. Promotional versions of the inserts caneven include advertising.

The insertion portion 14 is best illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, 5 & 8.The insertion portion is configured to be inserted into the rear pocketof a pair of pants and to retain the assembly in place with the flapportion extending over the exterior surface of the rear pocket. Theinsertion portion includes front and back surfaces 24 & 26 respectively,a top edge 28 that is joined to the flap portion's tab portion 22 nearthe top edge 20 of the flap portion 12. The insertion portion is widestat its top edge and gently tapers to its narrowest dimension proximatethe bottom edge 30.

Also notably, the insertion portion 14 is convex/concave with theconcave portion comprising the back surface that is positioned adjacenta wearer's buttock and the front surface, which faces toward the flapportion 12, being convex. The concave/convex nature of the insertionportion accomplishes several things: it helps secure and hold the pocketflap assembly 10 in the wearer's pocket 50; whereas, a flat insertionportion, given the curvature of a typical buttock, is more likely towork its way out of the with time and the movement of the wearer.Additionally a small force is exerted on the flap portion 22 at theintersection of its flat tab portion with the insertion portion pullingthe left and right edges of the flat flap portion towards the exteriorsurface of a pant pocket and thereby helping to keep the flap disposedin a downwardly extending closed configuration without the use of snaps,buttons or magnets.

The insertion portion 14 is typically comprised of a flexible foamsheet. The sheet is of the type readily available in craft stores and isoften referred to as “craft foam sheet”. Variations are made of EthyleneVinyl Acetate (EVA) although foam made from other polymers can be usedas well. The foam is characterized by a soft non-abrasive and forgivingface that is also not slick. The lack of slickness or high coefficientof friction of the foam sheet helps retain the insert portion andconsequently the pocket flap assembly 10 in the pocket 52 of a pair ofjeans 50 when being worn. The soft face of the foam will not scratch ormar the screen or finish of a cell phone that might be placed in thepocket where the pocket flap resides. The foam sheet is most often about0.0625-0.125″ thick making it semi-rigid and accordingly, facilitatingthe aforementioned small force exerted on the flap portion. As can beappreciated, the insert can be made of other materials, such as a morerigid yet thinner plastic sheet such as PVC, ABS, polypropylene orpolyethylene.

FIG. 8 illustrates a foam insert portion blank 32 prior to forming andattachment to the flap portion 12. The insert is cut from a flat sheetof foam with sides that taper from a wider top edge to a narrower bottomedge. Proximate the middle of the top edge a v-shaped cutout (or slit)34 extends vertically downwardly towards the bottom edge but terminatesin a point an inch of so therefrom. As best shown in FIG. 3, the edgesof the cutout are overlapped slightly and sewn together thereby formingthe concave/convex shape. It is appreciated that in other embodiments,the insert portion 14 can be molded into the concave/convex shapeforgoing the need for the cutout and the sewing of the cutout edgestogether.

A Method of Using Add-On Decorative Pocket Flaps with Pants

Most typically, the pocket flap assemblies 10 are provided and worn inpairs with one of the flap assemblies being inserted into a pant leftrear pocket 52 and the other flap assembly being inserted into the pantright rear pocket 52 as shown in FIG. 6. The convex/concaveconfiguration of the insertion portion helps hold the flap assembly inplace both as the pants 50 are being worn and upon removal of the pants.Accordingly, the pocket flap assemblies can be inserted either before orafter putting on a pair of pants. Most typically the assemblies haveflaps 12 made of denim that are adorned and embroidered and are used inconcert with jeans.

Other Variations and Embodiments

The various preferred embodiments and variations thereof illustrated inthe accompanying figures and/or described above are merely exemplary andare not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to beappreciated that numerous variations to the invention have beencontemplated as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the artwith the benefit of this disclosure. All variations of the inventionthat read upon the appended claims are intended and contemplated to bewithin the scope of the invention.

We claim:
 1. An add on decorative flap assembly for insertion into therear pocket of a pair of pants, the flap assembly comprising: a flapportion having a flap top edge and a flap front surface, a flap backsurface; and an insertion portion having an insert top edge, an insertfront surface and an insert back surface, the insertion portion and theflap portion being joined together proximate the respective flap andinsert top edges at an intersection, both the flap portion and theinsertion portion extending downwardly from the intersection with theflap back surface facing and being substantially adjacent the insertfront surface; wherein the insertion portion is sized and configured tobe received in a rear pocket of a pair of pants with the flap portionextending over a top edge of the rear pocket and covering a top portionof an outside surface of the pocket.
 2. The flap assembly of claim 1,wherein the flap portion comprises denim.
 3. The flap assembly of claim1, wherein one or more adornments are attached to the flap frontsurface.
 4. The flap assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap portion iscomprised of a flexible foam sheet material.
 5. The flap assembly ofclaim 4, wherein the flexible foam sheet material comprises EthyleneVinyl Acetate.
 6. The flap assembly of claim 4, wherein the flexiblefoam sheet has a high coefficient of friction.
 7. The flap assembly ofclaim 1, wherein the insertion portion is formed into a generallyconcave/convex shape.
 8. The flap assembly of claim 4, wherein theinsertion portion is formed into a generally concave/convex shape. 9.The flap assembly of claim 1, wherein the flap portion is sewn to theinsertion portion.
 10. The flap assembly of claim 8, wherein theflexible foam sheet includes a vertically extending slit that extendsgenerally upwardly from a flap bottom edge, the bottom edge beingopposite the flap top edge, the opposing edges of the slit being joinedto form the concave/convex shape.
 11. The flap assembly of claim 10,wherein the opposing edges of the slit are sewn together.
 12. The flapassembly of claim 7, wherein the concave portion of the concave/convexshape faces away from the flap portion.
 13. A combination comprising apair of flap assemblies of claim
 1. 14. The combination of claim 13,wherein the flap front surface of each flap assembly are similarlyadorned.
 15. In combination at least one flap assembly of claim 1 andthe pair of pants, the at least one flap assembly being received in therear pocket of the pants.
 16. In combination a pair of flap assembliesof claim 1 and the pair of pants, each flap assembly of the pair of flapassemblies being received in a rear pocket of the pants.
 17. The flapassembly of claim 3, wherein the adornment comprises rhinestones. 18.The flap assembly of claim 4, wherein the foam sheet is about0.0625″-0.125″ thick.
 19. A method of wearing a pair of pants with apair of flap assemblies of claim 1, the method comprising: providing apair of pants; providing the pair of flap assemblies; inserting theinsertion portion of a first flap assembly of the pair of flapassemblies in a left rear pocket with the flap portion overhanging a topedge and top portion of the left rear pocket; inserting the insertionportion of a second flap assembly of the pair of flap assemblies in aright rear pocket with the flap portion overhanging a top edge and topportion of the right rear pocket; and putting on the pants.
 20. Themethod of claim 19, wherein the pair of pants comprise a pair of jeans.